Multiple cannister supply paintball marker

ABSTRACT

A paintball marker using a gas combination chamber having multiple inputs for sealably connecting to multiple gas supply canisters. Multiple seals and piercing needles are provided to release the compressed gas from the separate canisters into the combination chamber. A single release valve is then provided for launching the paintball marker using the combined gas supply. A body including an alignment chamber and a screw on back cover is provided for aligning the canisters in position and then generating the pressure for sealing and piercing the multiple canisters. The multiple canister connection provides an increased gas capacity over known markers while still using the low supply capacity of the commercially available gas canisters. The simple guided alignment provided by the marker body and the screw on pressure cap provide for quick field replacement of the canisters in the rough playing environment associated with the game of paintball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of paintball markers. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to paintball markers using gas provided by a gas canister. Known art may be found in U.S. Class 124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors: Subclass 53 Having Cut-Off, Subclass 63 Provided by Movement of User-Actuated, Projector-Mounted Pressure Member, Subclass 73 By Valve Means; Class 141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means: Subclass 290 With Flue or Vent Externally Returning to Supply as well as in other classes and subclasses.

2. Description of the Known Art

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, gas cartridges have been used to supply gas to paintball markers. Patents and Applications disclosing information regarding various canister or marker configurations include U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0131834, issued to Rice on Jul. 17, 2003; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0178018, issued to Cherry on Sep. 25, 2003; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0144012, issued to Adams on Jul. 29, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 1,743,576, issued to Smith on Jul. 14, 1927; U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,344, issued to Vadas on Feb. 10, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,145, issued to Stelcher on Dec. 7, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,609, issued to Tippmann on Apr. 11, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,456, issued to Perrone on Jun. 3, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,422, issued to Ferris on Nov. 24, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,194, issued to Shipachev on Dec. 17, 2002. Each of these patents and publications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

This prior art shows the desire to use a gas cartridge because a filled cartridge may be shipped within the department of transportation guidelines. However, the prior art fails to teach the limitations imposed by these cartridges and how to overcome these limitations. Thus, it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved marker is needed to overcome these limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved paintball marker having an increased gas supply through a sealing and piercing connection with multiple gas canisters. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a paintball marker is provided using a pressurized gas supplied from a plurality of gas cartridges. Each of the gas cartridges has a gas containment body that needs to be pierced to release the pressurized gas. The inventive aspect of the marker uses a plurality of gas inputs to connect to multiple gas cartridges. The marker uses a unique construction such that each of the multiple gas inputs is sealably connectable to one gas cartridge and then a piercing needle is used to puncture the sealed gas cartridge. The gas is then directed by the needle and the input to a common chamber. In this manner, the gas inputs are fluidly connected to a gas combination chamber. This combined gas flow is then used to launch paintballs. As noted by this invention, one inventive aspect of the invention is provided by a pressure application device which applies the sealing pressure to the gas cartridges and then applies the piercing pressure to the gas cartridges.

A method is also taught that uses the elements of providing multiple inputs for accepting the pressurized gas from each of gas cartridges; releasing the pressurized gas from the cartridges; combining at least a portion of the pressurized gas from each of the gas cartridges to form a combined gas supply; and selectively releasing the combined gas supply to act on the paintball. Other elements that may be included in this method include sealing at least a portion of the multiple gas cartridges and then piercing the sealed portion of a plurality of the multiple gas cartridges to release the pressurized gas; providing a piercing needle and pressing the gas cartridge against the piercing needle; or providing a gas expansion chamber and using a combined volume chamber to provide a launching volume of gas.

One object of the present invention is to provide an increased gas supply by combining multiple cartridge supplies while still providing a single valve assembly that is easily and inexpensively controlled.

A further object of the invention is a method for sealing and piercing multiple cartridges without prematurely releasing gas from one of the canisters.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a paintball marker.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the paintball marker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the multiple cartridges and combination chamber arrangement before connection.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connected arrangement for the multiple cartridges and combination chamber.

FIG. 5 is a cut away schematic view of the paintball marker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a an exploded view of the combination chamber area of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 11 is a back view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 12 is a left side view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the combination chamber.

FIG. 14 is a cutaway view of the combination chamber of FIG. 11 along line B-B.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway view of the combination chamber of FIG. 14 along line A-A.

FIG. 16 is an expanded view of the gas input on the combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge ready to be inserted.

FIG. 17 is an expanded view of the gas input on the combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge contacting the seal.

FIG. 18 is an expanded view of the gas input on the combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge compressing the seal.

FIG. 19 is an expanded view of the gas input on the combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the needle piercing the cartridge.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of the preferred method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 19 of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as a multiple canister supply paintball marker 100 for using pressurized gas 22 for launching a paintball 10. The gas is provided in commercially known and available gas cartridges 20 shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 that hold a pressurized gas 22 within a gas containment body 24. The gas cartridges 20 are also known as gas containers 20. The pressurized gas 22 may be seen in its initial position within the gas container 20 through the cutaway section of the gas containment body 24 shown in FIG. 3. The gas containment body includes a release neck 26, an elongated central compartment 28 and a domed end 30. The gas cartridges 20 are designed so that they will release the pressurized gas 22 upon puncturing of the release neck 26. The release neck 26 is flowably connected to the elongated central compartment 28 which is capped by the domed end 30 of the cartridge 20.

FIG. 1 shows an external overview of the multiple canister paintball marker 100 having a marker body 102. Extending downward from the marker body 102 is the grip 110 which houses the trigger 112. The safety 124 interacts with the trigger 112 to selectively lock the marker 100 in an inoperable condition. On top of the marker body 102 is mounted the hopper 116 which is selectively attached and released by the hopper release button 118. Extending from the front of the marker body 102 is the barrel 120 and the cocking pump handle 122. The back of the marker body 102 is covered by the piercing screw cartridge cap 172. This is the area where the multiple gas cartridges 20 are mounted in, sealed to, and pierced by the marker 100.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows an exploded view of the multiple cartridge apparatus 100. This figure shows how the cartridges 20 are mounted into a fixed position in the marker body 102 such that the piercing cap 172 can apply the sealing pressure and the piercing pressure to release the gas into the marker 100. The marker body 102 is made up of a left housing 104 and a right housing 106 which are connected together by screws 108. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip 110 is molded as an integral part of the marker body 102. The trigger 112 pivots within a cavity in the housings 104, 106 and is biased by a trigger spring 114 to engage the hammer assembly 130. The hopper 116 slides into the housings 104, 106 and is releasably held in place by the hopper release button 118. The back of the hopper release button 118 is designed with a pivot axis and the front of the hopper release button 118 slides in the housings 104, 106 such that the release button 118 downwardly flexes to provide the necessary movement for releasing the hopper 116. The barrel 120 is molded into the left housing 104 to provide a smooth barrel without a molding separation line. The cocking pump handle 122 slides over the barrel and uses an extended arm 123 to connect with the bolt assembly 132 for cocking the marker 100. The safety 124 slides sideways in the housings 104, 106 to selectively block the movement of the trigger 112.

The launching device 126 includes a hammer compression spring 128 mounted between a hammer assembly 130 and a bolt assembly 132. In the basic operation of the marker 100, the extension 123 of the cocking pump handle 122 engages the bolt assembly 132 and is pushed back until the hammer release 131 engages the bolt assembly 132. This rearward movement of the bolt assembly 132 also allows a paintball (not shown in this Figure) to drop from the hopper into the breech area. The coking pump handle 122 is then moved forward which moves the paintball 10 into the firing position and carries the compressed spring 128 and hammer assembly 130 forward with the cocking pump handle 122. The firing position of the paintball is shown in FIG. 5. The hammer release 131 then engages the trigger 112 and the marker 100 is ready to fire. Pulling the trigger 112 releases the hammer assembly 130 such that the energy of the compressed spring 128 moves the hammer backwards to contact and open the pressure release valve 146 in the valve body assembly 134 to allow the pressurized gas to launch the paintball 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 19, the valve body assembly 134 provides a unique combination of elements to allow for multiple cartridges 20 to be used to supply the pressurized gas 22. While any number of multiple inputs could be utilized, the preferred embodiment uses two gas inputs 136. As shown in the sealing and then piercing of FIGS. 16 through 19, each gas input 136 includes a gas seal 138 mounted to seal the cartridge to the gas flow structure 140. The gas seal 138 is a compression seal that is adapted to seal the gas flow structure 140 to the gas cartridge 20 before puncturing of the cartridge 20 to release the pressurized gas 22. The cartridge 20 is shown in FIG. 16 before insertion into the gas input 136. FIG. 17 then shows the cartridge 20 contacting the seal 138, and FIG. 18 shows the cartridge 20 compacting the seal 138 to seal the cartridge to the gas input 136. FIG. 19 then shows the needle 142 piercing the cartridge 20 to release the gas 22. The present invention uses a hollow piercing needle 142 to puncture the cartridge 20 and the hollow center body of the needle provides the gas flow structure 140. The released pressurized gas 22 is guided to the gas combination chamber 144. The gas combination chamber 144 and its expansion volume 156 are shown in FIG. 14. Because the pressurized gas may be in liquid form, the gas combination chamber 144 is designed not only to mix the multiple gas flows together to form a combined gas supply 158, but also provides an expansion volume 156 to allow for the gas to expand to become a more viscous gaseous flow.

A releasable chamber seal 154 is formed in one end of the chamber 144 that allows for selectively releasing the combined gas supply 158. This chamber seal 154 is formed as a pressure release valve 146 that is mounted to the hammer end of the gas combination chamber 144. The pressure release valve 146 has a valve seal 148 that is biased into a sealed position by the seal biasing spring 150. In this manner, the hammer may impact the seal driving rod 149 to move the valve seal backwards to a released position 151 to release the combined pressurized gas supply 158. The seal biasing spring 150 then returns the valve seal 148 to the sealed position.

An important aspect of the present embodiment is the alignment and pressure sealing of all of the canisters 20 into one of the inputs 136 before piercing of any of the canisters 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the present invention utilizes a cartridge housing 160 with ribs 161 guiding the canisters 20 into position within a multiple cartridge holding area 162. A pressure application device 164 is then used with a first range of motion 166 to seal the canisters 20 and a second range of motion 168 for piercing the canisters. The preferred embodiment uses a first thread 170 on a piercing screw cartridge cap 172 that engages a second thread 174 on the body 110 of the marker 100. The piercing cap 172 has a circular interior area forming a multiple cartridge contact area 176 which slideably engages the domed end 30 of the cartridges 20 to apply the necessary compression pressure to first seal and then pierce the cartridges 20. Thus, the cartridges 20 are put into the housing 160 and then the piercing cap 172 is screwed onto the marker body 110. As the cap is tightened, the length of the housing 160 is reduced and both of the cartridges 20 are equally forced into the gas inputs 136. This provides for the sealing on both cartridges and the piercing of both cartridges to occur substantially simultaneously. This provides the necessary seal and the piercing function to avoid the use individual gas valves in each of the gas inputs. It is envisioned that the present invention could be embodied with these multiple valves, but the unique design of the preferred embodiment shown here provides a less expensive alternative.

From the embodiment of the present invention, it may be seen that a multiple cartridge launching method 180 is taught as shown by the flow chart of FIG. 20. The basic method includes the elements of providing inputs 182 for connecting to the multiple canisters and then releasing gas 184 from the canisters. The method continues by combining the gases 194 from the multiple cartridges and then selectively releasing the gases 200 to launch the paintball. The element of releasing the gas 184 from the cartridges may include the elements of sealing the cartridge 186 into the inputs and then piercing the cartridges 188. Piercing the cartridges 188 may include the elements of providing a needle 190 and then pressing the needle 192 against the cartridge to puncture the cartridge. The method 180 may also include the elements of providing an expansion chamber 196 and using the volume chamber 198 to provide the necessary initial quantity of gas to ensure the appropriate launching speed for the paintball. The volume chamber 198 should be sufficiently sized in accordance with the release valve as is well known in the art of single tank supplies such that the launching speed of the paintball is within the applicable ASTM standards.

Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:

-   -   a paintball 10     -   gas cartridge/gas container 20     -   a pressurized gas 22     -   a gas containment body 24     -   release neck 26     -   elongated central compartment 28     -   domed end 30     -   a paintball marker apparatus 100     -   marker body 102     -   left housing 104     -   right housing 106     -   screw 108     -   grip 110     -   trigger 112     -   trigger spring 114     -   hopper 116     -   hopper release button 118     -   barrel 120     -   cocking pump handle 122     -   an extended arm 123     -   safety 124     -   a launching device 126     -   hammer compression spring 128     -   hammer assembly 130     -   bolt assembly 132     -   valve body assembly 134     -   gas inputs 136     -   a gas seal 138     -   a gas flow structure 140     -   a piercing needle 142     -   a gas combination chamber 144     -   a pressure release valve 146     -   a valve seal 148     -   seal driving rod 149     -   a seal biasing spring 150     -   a release position 151     -   a releasable chamber seal 154     -   an expansion volume 156     -   a combined gas supply 158     -   a cartridge housing 160     -   ribs 161     -   a multiple cartridge holding area 162     -   a pressure application device 164     -   a first range of motion 166     -   a second range of motion 168     -   a first thread 170     -   a piercing screw cartridge cap 172     -   a second thread 174     -   a multiple cartridge contact area 176     -   a multiple cartridge launching method 180     -   Providing inputs 182     -   Releasing gas 184     -   Sealing cartridge 186     -   Piercing cartridge 188     -   providing needle 190     -   pressing needle 192     -   combining gases 194     -   providing expansion chamber 196     -   using volume chamber 198     -   selectively releasing gases 200

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch a paintball using a pressurized gas supplied from a plurality of gas cartridges, each gas cartridge having a gas containment body, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of gas inputs, each gas input adapted to flowably connected to one gas cartridge; and a gas combination chamber flowably connected to the plurality of gas inputs.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input comprising: a gas seal; and a gas flow structure, the gas seal adapted to sealably connect the gas containment body to the gas flow structure such that the pressurized gas sealably flows from the gas containment body into the gas flow structure.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, the gas flow structure further comprising: a piercing needle, the piercing needle adapted to puncture the gas containment body.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, the apparatus further comprising: a cartridge housing defining a multiple cartridge holding area.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a pressure application device, the pressure application device having a first range of motion adapted to apply sealing pressure to the gas cartridges.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, the pressure application device also having a second range of motion adapted to apply piercing pressure to the gas cartridges.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a cartridge housing defining a first thread; and a cartridge cap defining a second thread and a multiple cartridge contact area, the second thread adapted to engage the first thread such that the multiple cartridge contact area applies pressure to the gas cartridges.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, the gas combination chamber further comprising: a pressure release valve including a releasable chamber seal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, the pressure release valve further comprising: a seal biasing spring connected to the releasable chamber seal, the seal biasing spring adapted to bias the chamber seal to a sealed position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, the gas combination chamber defining an expansion volume.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, the gas combination chamber defining an expansion volume.
 12. A multiple supply marker apparatus adapted to receive and launch a paintball using a pressurized gas provided in a container, the apparatus comprising: a gas input means for accepting pressurized gas from multiple containers and combining the gas to form a combined gas supply; and a launching means for releasing the combined gas supply to launch the paintball.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input means comprising: a gas sealing means for sealing the container to the gas input means.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a pressure application means for applying sealing pressure between the gas sealing means and the gas cartridge.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input means comprising: a piercing means for puncturing the container.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: a pressure application means for applying piercing pressure between the piercing means and the container.
 17. A method for launching a paintball using pressurized gas from multiple gas cartridges, the method comprising: providing multiple inputs for accepting the pressurized gas from each of gas cartridges; releasing the pressurized gas from the cartridges; combining at least a portion of the pressurized gas from each of the gas cartridges to form a combined gas supply; selectively releasing the combined gas supply to act on the paintball.
 18. The method of claim 17, releasing the pressurized gas further comprising: sealing at least a portion of the multiple gas cartridges; and then piercing the sealed portion of a plurality of the multiple gas cartridges to release the pressurized gas.
 19. The method of claim 18, piercing further comprising: providing a piercing needle; and pressing the gas cartridge against the piercing needle.
 20. The method of claim 17 further comprising: providing a gas expansion chamber; and using a combined volume chamber to provide a launching volume of gas. 